Peter Brett Survey of Sydenham Road

[ALIB]

Peter Brett, Consultants for the Sydenham Road Improvements, have been posting questionnaires to residents on Sydenham Road.
Can I firstly say I have no problem with this , and it is a very prudent course of action.

The issues that have arisen to my knowledge so far are :

1) The reply envelope didn't have a stamp affixed. Are any other recipients devoid of a Stamped-Adressed-Envelope ?

2) The questions asked regarding the residents property can be construed as being of a technical nature. It is not made clear whether residents replies will be relied upon, or indeed whether the replies could make the respondant culpaple for any incidents during the works.

So,....

Has anyone else had to affix their own stamp to their replies ?

Has anyone else considered being liable for the information they have provided in the event of an incident ?

Personally, I think all submitted information by residents should not be considered as being legally binding, and Peter Brett should ensure that they conduct all Due Dilligance procedures, regardless of residents replies. That should have been made entirely clear in the letter they sent out. But it wasn't

All thoughts welcome.

[Annie]

I havent had one of these,is it possible to show us what it is?

[ALIB]

i'll try

[ALIB]

here goes.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/27656549@N08/6877690495/

[ALIB]

i have pm'ed Peter Brett ,.....reading@peterbrett.com to inform them of the lacking information and culpability issues.

I await their reply

[marymck]

I'm not personally affected by this, so I don't know what they're doing that would affect your foundations/basements but if I received such a vague letter I'd want to check it out with Lewisham and, if they're digging close to foundations, I'd want to know exactly how close.

I'd aso be very wary just who I was letting into my house and I'm going to be covered by Lewisham's indemnity insurance.

Also, I know that if a developer is carrying out work under the Party Wall Act they have to inform you of that fact and you can ask that that developer set aside a sum of money with a third party, to cover you should damage be done or the developer not complete the work (e.g. goes bust).

[chrisj1948]

2) The questions asked regarding the residents property can be construed as being of a technical nature. It is not made clear whether residents replies will be relied upon, or indeed whether the replies could make the respondant culpaple for any incidents during the works.

The question in the copy we received asked merely if we had a basement, with Yes/No/Don't Know options. This does not seem very technical to me.

Regards
Chris

[ALIB]

2) The questions asked regarding the residents property can be construed as being of a technical nature. It is not made clear whether residents replies will be relied upon, or indeed whether the replies could make the respondant culpaple for any incidents during the works.

The question in the copy we received asked merely if we had a basement, with Yes/No/Don't Know options. This does not seem very technical to me.

Regards
Chris

Admittedly, on the face of it. However, some properties may have had basements in the past which were subsequently infilled. Other properties may be considering basements for the future.

Also I felt culpability for information given in good faith was also a potential issue , in the event of anything going wrong.

The lack of stamp on the reply envelope was also an isuue to my elderly friend

[bensonby]

I'm not a solicitor and am, therefore, not an expert on these sorts of things - and, perhaps, I might consider consulting with one over this. However, how about a reply in a letter-form, rather than on any pre-printed form, with phrases such as "as far as I am aware" and "not to my knowledge" littered liberally preceding relevant phrases?

[ALIB]

i didn't want to over-egg a very simple questionnaire. To be honest I was more concerned about the lack of stamp.

I'm sure what bensonby suggested, writing "all information given in good faith", or whatever, should do the trick

[Annie]

here goes.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/27656549@N08/6877690495/

Sorry Alib, I had no idea it was a personal letter,
and I can see it doesn't affect me,good luck with it.

Oh, and by the way,we also get annoyed when no stamp is supplied when it is someone else asking the questions.

[chrisj1948]

i didn't want to over-egg a very simple questionnaire. To be honest I was more concerned about the lack of stamp.

Our reply envelope was unstamped, but it had a Freepost code.

Regards
Chris

[ALIB]

ahh, many thanks Chris,

That's maybe where the problem lay. The Freepost code wasn't on the letter, so perhaps it was somewhere on the form.
Apologies for having a dig at Peter Brett, but I think the Freepost Code should have been in a more prominant position for someone of mature years to spot.

Thanks for clearing that up